KUALA LUMPUR: The prices of some medicines and pharmaceutical products at public health facilities have tripled compared to the original, causing the Health Ministry to bear higher costs for drug supplies, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

The Health Minister said the price hike was multifactorial, mainly due to the unanticipated global situation and procurement systems issue.

“(The price hike) was not anticipated, and it was more obvious on medicines and vaccines following the transition from the pandemic (Covid-19),” he said when wrapping up the debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill (2023) 2024 to provide additional expenditure for his ministry.

The Bill provides an allocation for withdrawal not exceeding RM23,479,669,350 from the Consolidated Fund for additional expenditure for services.

The Health Ministry was allocated RM687,892,500.

Dr Dzulkefly also said that removing certain products from the Approved Product Purchase List (APPL) also contributed to the higher price of medicines.

“Pharmaceutical products were removed from the list in 2023 when Pharmaniaga terminated the privatisation contract for drug labs and stores.

“This has caused some medicines to experience higher prices, up to fivefold,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

Among the medicines that were affected include vaccines for Hepatitis B (200%), treatment drugs for tuberculosis (300%), oral rehydration salt (140%) and steroid inhalers (50%).

Dr Dzulkefly said the additional expenditure allocated was also for health facilities and the employment of healthcare workers, among other things.